Freethought & Rationalism Archive

eowynn · 10-08-2002, 03:47 PM

I was talking with a Christian friend the other day, and he asked me why I thought humans had intrinsic value, and why humanism was a good philosophy. Does anyone have a good answer? I couldn't think of anything, except the social contract theory of justice, which he was not too impressed with. I am just curious to her some opinions.

tronvillain · 10-08-2002, 08:22 PM

*shrugs* Asking why humans have intrinsic value is like asking why pumpkin pies taste good: to me, they just do. It is a brute fact that I value the lives of other human beings, though a deeper explanation could be found in biology, evolutionary theory, and culture.

Rusting Car Bumper · 10-09-2002, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by eowynn:
<strong>I was talking with a Christian friend the other day, and he asked me why I thought humans had intrinsic value, and why humanism was a good philosophy. Does anyone have a good answer? I couldn't think of anything, except the social contract theory of justice, which he was not too impressed with. I am just curious to her some opinions.</strong>

Ask him why flowers have intrinsic value even though they live a short time and die.

Apply it to humans.

The question is then answered.

DC

vixstile · 10-11-2002, 04:32 PM

Well I certainly value humans, I don't believe this value is intrinsic in the humans. That would imply that the 'value' is in some way a substance or energy that is is part of the makeup of humans, and this 'value' thus radiates form humans, and is perceived by other people.

From my understanding of value, it is a necessarily internal thing. Things don't have value built in(intrinsic), rather we apply value to things.

10-08-2002, 03:47 PM	#1
eowynn Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Sweden Posts: 58	Humanism I was talking with a Christian friend the other day, and he asked me why I thought humans had intrinsic value, and why humanism was a good philosophy. Does anyone have a good answer? I couldn't think of anything, except the social contract theory of justice, which he was not too impressed with. I am just curious to her some opinions.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

10-08-2002, 08:22 PM	#2
tronvillain Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 5,658	shrugs Asking why humans have intrinsic value is like asking why pumpkin pies taste good: to me, they just do. It is a brute fact that I value the lives of other human beings, though a deeper explanation could be found in biology, evolutionary theory, and culture.

10-11-2002, 04:32 PM	#4
vixstile Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: California Posts: 2,029	Well I certainly value humans, I don't believe this value is intrinsic in the humans. That would imply that the 'value' is in some way a substance or energy that is is part of the makeup of humans, and this 'value' thus radiates form humans, and is perceived by other people. From my understanding of value, it is a necessarily internal thing. Things don't have value built in(intrinsic), rather we apply value to things.

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.